The World Cup warm-up served, as ever, all sorts of jingoistic, xenophobic, racist, nationalistic and prejudicial bigotry to fill up column inches left, right and centre, masquerading as some sort of pure form of "love of the beautiful game". But, as ever, it was worth taking a deep breath and letting everything pass, because now that we are able to enjoy the competition proper it has become clear that there is no need to for anything else - keep our eyes on the ball and both our imaginations and our adrenalin will be taken care of for weeks.

Just a few games in and already I, for one, am having trouble understanding a shift in British attitudes towards Argentina which has left me, frankly, culturally baffled. It is among the least expected outcomes to be receiving praise for an Argentina performance, hand in hand with laments over England - the result against Paraguay was OK, but people are bothered about the game nevertheless and England will need to do better against Trinidad & Tobago tomorrow.

Both England and Argentina have started off as well as can be expected: each has three points. But there are lessons, surely, and, some of the most interesting explorations I think are related to the weather.

The English say it was too hot. Honestly, you've no idea how hot it was out there. We do of course, because we have been wearing our woollies until last week. So, our body temperature is under shock as well. Granted, we didn't have to run around playing at the highest level of competition.

But as the advert suggests: "Let the memories begin". And my first memory triggered by this issue is Mexico 1986. One young player realised that the midday sun was extreme, and that the match schedule had been compiled to maximise potential TV revenue back in Europe. He gathered the support of other brave players and took his complaint to Fifa. "This isn't right" he said, "it's too hot".

Fifa, according to conspiracy theorists, blacklisted him after labelling him a trouble maker, and the ball rolled on. Sunstroke, vomiting, diarrhoea ... it was all part and parcel of the dressing room antics.